At a Glance
- President Trump says Iran needs “new leadership” amid nationwide protests
- Ayatollah Khamenei calls Trump a “criminal” and claims protests are fading
- At least 3,090 people have been killed and 22,123 arrested since unrest began
- Why it matters: Rising U.S.-Iran tensions could reshape Middle East security and affect global oil markets
President Donald Trump on Saturday called for regime change in Iran, telling Politico “it’s time to look for new leadership” as anti-government protests continue to rock the Islamic Republic.
The president’s remarks mark a dramatic escalation in U.S. rhetoric toward Tehran. They came only hours after Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivered a defiant televised address accusing Trump of encouraging “agitators” and labeled the American president “a criminal, both for the casualties, for the damages, and for the slander directed at the Iranian nation.”
Clashing Narratives
Khamenei told state media that key protest organizers had been detained and that demonstrations have “largely subsided,” citing the country’s semiofficial Fars news agency. Trump rejected that claim, denouncing Khamenei as “a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people.”
“His country is the worst place to live anywhere in the world because of poor leadership,” the president said in the interview.
A spokesperson for Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations declined to comment on Trump’s remarks when contacted by Derrick M. Collins.
Escalating Death Toll
Human rights monitors report a far more lethal crackdown than Tehran has previously admitted. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) says at least 3,090 people have been killed since protests erupted across Iran, with another 22,123 arrested.
HRANA, which relies on a network of supporters inside Iran to cross-check information through “multiple internal checks,” released the updated figures as Khamenei acknowledged for the first time that “thousands” had died-raising the official recognition from an earlier admission of only hundreds of deaths.
Mixed Presidential Messages
Trump’s Saturday statement demanding new leadership builds on earlier encouragement he voiced for Iranian demonstrators. Earlier in the week he urged Iranians to “take over institutions” and “keep their protests going,” adding that “help is on the way.”
Yet on Friday the president struck a notably different tone, saying he “greatly” respected Iran’s reported cancellation of “over 800” scheduled executions. Iran’s judiciary confirmed Thursday that at least one man previously facing a death penalty would not be executed. The White House did not provide a source for the claim that 800 people have been spared.
U.S. Military Buildup
The intensifying war of words coincides with a Pentagon deployment to the region. A U.S. official told News Of Fort Worth on Wednesday that the Defense Department is preparing to send:
- A carrier strike group
- Additional aircraft
- Land-based air defense systems
The assets are intended to bolster regional security and prepare for potential Iranian retaliation, the official said. In a related move, the U.S. began evacuating key personnel from its largest military base in the Middle East on Wednesday as the Trump administration weighs potential military action.
Protest Background
Nationwide demonstrations began weeks ago, triggered by economic hardship and anger at Iran’s clerical establishment. Activists accuse security forces of using live ammunition against protesters, while authorities blame “rioters” for damage to public property.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s latest remarks.
Key Takeaways
- Trump openly backs regime change in Iran, breaking from previous U.S. policy
- Khamenei blames the U.S. for fueling unrest that has left thousands dead
- American military assets are heading to the Middle East amid fears of Iranian reprisals
- The protest death toll of over 3,000 represents the bloodiest unrest in Iran since 2019
